CANSO Africa Operations & Safety Workshop 2026 incorporating an extended Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) session
In May 2024, we gathered as members of CANSO Africa Operations and Safety Workgroups to enhance our collaboration efforts and to commit, through our work, to safety in operations. This was our third gathering since the end of the pandemic and was an event that reminded us that collaboration, while difficult, is the only way we will succeed.
Following on the success of the past sessions, CANSO Africa is pleased to announce that we have heeded the call from its Members and registration is now open for the joint Operations and Safety Workshop 2026, taking place in Luanda, Angola on 16 – 20 March 2026, kindly hosted by ENNA E.P..
Under the theme “Collaborate to Succeed, a workshop on Safety and Operations,” this session will bring together operational and safety leaders including technical experts from the region together to find better ways of collaboration, sharing lessons and notes as we shape the future skies of Africa.
The programme will feature relevant conversations, interactive roundtables, and breakaway workgroup sessions, including:
- Complete Air Traffic System – CATS and the core work areas – how do we shape the future skies of Africa
- Safety in Operations – a joint approach
- Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) workshop inclusive of Drone Integration (extended session within a workshop)
- Enhancing safety Culture in our organisations
- Core regional elements – ATFM, SWIM, FF-ICE including lessons from our global colleagues
- Success in collaboration – The regional UPR/FRA trials and how the implementation is unfolding
The core objectives of the workshop are:
- To bring members together and enhance discussions and collaboration while allowing opportunities for co-creation
- Learn from recent successes on collaboration
- Address cross-cutting topics and align on approaches
- Jointly formulate work plans for the regional group including how we work with other stakeholders
- Agree on priorities
This workshop is open to all CANSO Africa Members, especially Operations and Safety workgroup and task force teams.
And if you have any questions, please contact Africa@canso.org
We look forward to seeing you in March, in fascinating Luanda.
Our outline programme
While the full programme is being finalised, here is an outline of what you can expect of our meeting in Luanda.
Day 1 – Monday 16 March:
| 08:00 – 09:00 | Arrival and Registration |
| 09:15 – 10:30 | Setting the Scene Speaker Thabani Myeza– Director Africa Affairs, CANSO Official opening and welcome address Speakers Workshop Remarks Maureen Isika, Chair Safety WG Opening Remarks Emil Rogers, SG Roberts FIR, and AFC3 Chair (online) Welcome Address Bernarda de Paiva Henrique, Chairwoman of the Board, ENNA-EP Group Photo |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Networking Break |
| 11:00 – 13:00 | Plenary Session- cross cutting issues The Complete Air Traffic System (CATS) — unpacking the CONOPS and defining future work Alignment with regional plans (building on the discussion from the Nairobi Regional Conference) Shaping global outcomes: contributing to the ICAO GANP and the Minimum Implementation Path ASECNA ATM/CNS Master Plan and level of implementation of GANP / ASBUs Fireside chat: Discussion on the Minimum Implementation Path and its implications for Africa Facilitators: Gakou Abdoul Kader -ASECNA Dr Eduardo Garcia -Senior Manager Future Skies CANSO |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Networking Lunch |
| 14:00 – 14:45 | Presentation by ENNA-EP The impact of operational safety on the air navigation services certification process. Presenter: Francisco Almeida de Carvalho, Advisor to the Board of Directors – ENNA-EP ANGOLA |
| 14:45 – 15:30 | Presentation Safety in Operations and Human Performance Aspects |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Networking Break |
| 16:00-16:45 | Cybersecurity in the ATM Environment (CNS, etc.) Presenter: (on-line) Andy Boff, Co Chair Cybersecurity WG |
Day 2 – Tuesday 17 March:
| 09:00 – 10:30 | Workshop – Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), inclusive of Drone Integration/UTM Please refer to Annexure 1 for details |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Networking Break |
| 11:00 – 13:00 | Workshop continues- Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), inclusive of Drone Integration/UTM |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Networking Lunch |
| 14:00-15:30 | Workshop continues- Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), inclusive of Drone Integration/UTM |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Networking Break |
| 16:00 – 17:00 | Workshop continues- Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), inclusive of Drone Integration/UTM |
Day 3 – Wednesday 18 March: Parallel Breakaway sessions
| Parallel breakaway sessions for the Operations and Safety teams focusing on current and future workgroup activities | Parallel breakaway sessions for the Operations and Safety teams focusing on current and future workgroup activities |
| Safety WG | Operations WG |
| 09 :00 -10 :30 Safety Promotion mini workshop Safety Culture revisited CANSO Safety Culture Benchmarking Programme Safety culture -facilitated session Regional Experiences – sharing sessions Facilitator: John Wennes-Safety Programme Manager CANSO Supported by : Maureen Isika– Chair Safety WG Samba Dabor-Deputy Chair Safety WG | 09:00-10:30 A-CDM – global and regional experience. What is next for AFI Region Presenter: (online) Adam Webb, T070 participant of the ATFM/A-CDM WG Asia-Pacific ATFM experience – Presenter: (online) Anfernee, HKCAD co-chair ATFM/A-CDM ICAO Update on ATFM – PMT work and A-CDM and ICAO Update on PBN and Airspace Optimisation (tbc) Presenter: (online) Serge Tchanda -Regional Officer ATM/SAR ICAO WACAF |
| 10:30 -11:00 – Networking Break | 10:30 -11:00 – Networking Break |
| 11:00-13:00 Safety Promotion mini workshop CISM–facilitated session with regional experience Regional Experiences, what is working and what is not working – sharing sessions Facilitator: Dr Jaco vd Westhuizen-Chief Aviation Safety & Regulatory Oversight Officer ATNS Supported by : Maureen Isika- Chair Safety WG Samba Dabor-Deputy Chair Safety WG | 11:00 -12:00 Operational Coordination and situational Awareness – aspects of the new COMPASS OiS Presenters: Nicki Harricharan-Operations Programme Manager -CANSO Kapri Kupper-COMPASS Workgroup Chair (on-line) 12:00-13:00 UPR/FRA Implementation – updates and the next steps Presenter: (online) Kennedy Blege– GCAA |
| 13:00 -14:00, Networking Lunch | 13:00 -14:00, Networking Lunch |
| 14:00-15:30 CANSO Standard of Excellence on SMS – Future work Facilitator: John Wennes-Safety Programme Manager CANSO Supported by: Dr Jaco vd Westhuizen-Chief Aviation Safety & Regulatory Oversight Officer ATNS Maureen Isika– Chair Safety WG Samba Dabor-Deputy Chair Safety WG Tumaini Mgaya-Chief Safety Management-TCAA | 14:00-15:30 SWIM & FF-ICE – taking stock and the next step Facilitators: Raoul Bester– Specialist: Aeronautical Information ATNS Daniel Bateeze-SWIM task force lead Fortunate Tumuhaise -SWIM task force |
| 15:30 – 16:00, Networking Break | 15:30 – 16:00, Networking Break |
| 16:00 – 17:00 Recap and summary of the day | 16:00-17:00 Recap and summary of the day |
Day 4 – Thursday 19 March: Breakaway Sessions
| Safety | Operations |
| 09:00 – 10:30 More sessions tbc Continued Regional Safety Discussions | 09:00-10:30 ANSP specific – Environmental issues and the CANSO GreenATM Member experiences – sharing sessions Presenter: (on-line) Omar Haji – Deputy Chair Environmental task force |
| 10:30 – 11:00, Networking Break | 10:30 – 11:00, Networking Break |
| 11:00 – 12:00 Update and future plans – ANSP Peer Review mechanism Facilitator: Abari Boukari, Head of Safety & Security Management Services, ASECNA | 11:00-12:00 Topic tbc Facilitators: Zephania Sholobela -Chair Ops WG John Kwofie -Deputy Chair Ops WG |
| 12:00 – 13:00 Breakaway sessions-report and feedback development Revisit/Develop activity plans for 2026 Preparation Facilitators: Maureen Isika, Chair Safety WG Samba Dabor, Deputy Chair Safety WG Supported by: Task Force Leads | 12:00-13:00 Breakaway sessions-report and feedback development Revisit / Develop activity plans for 2026 Preparation for plenary feedback Facilitators: Zephania Sholobela, Chair Ops WG John Kwofie, Deputy Chair Ops WG |
| 13:00 – 14:00, Networking Lunch | 13:00 – 14:00, Networking Lunch |
| 14:00 – 15:15 Breakaway sessions-report and feedback development Revisit/Develop activity plans for 2026 Preparation Facilitators: Maureen Isika, Chair Safety WG Samba Dabor, Deputy Chair Safety WG Supported by: Task Force Leads | 14:00-15:15 Breakaway sessions-report and feedback development Finalise activity plans for 2026 Consolidate feedback Facilitators: Zephania Sholobela, Chair Ops WG John Kwofi, Deputy Chair Ops WG |
| 15:15 – 15:30, Networking Break | 15:15 – 15:30, Networking Break |
| 15:45 – Departure for hotels: Early break in preparation for off-site dinner |
| 17:15 – Departure from hotels: Transportation of delegates from various hotels to dinner venue |
| 18:00 – 21:30: Dinner (venue TBC) |
Day 5 – Friday 20 March
| 09:15 – 10:30 | Closing Plenary Operations WG report feedback and conclusions Safety WG report feedback and conclusions Way forward Facilitators: Zephania Sholobela, Ops WG Chair Maureen Isika, Safety WG Chair |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Networking Break |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | Official closing session Vote of thanks, Ops & Safety Deputy Chair Workshop remarks, CANSO Closing remarks, ENNA-EP |
| 12:00-13:00 | Closing Lunch |
| 14:00 | Site visit to the centre (TBC) |
Important Visa Information
Check your visa requirements here – https://www.smevisa.gov.ao/
If you require a Visa support letter from our hosts, ENNA E.P., please email a copy of your passport to madalena.contreiras@enna.co.ao, and heraclides.santos@enna.co.ao and copy Connie.Nkosi@canso.org.
More information, including accommodation options
Here is the full information bulletin for the event. Please check this for all the information you need, including details of your accommodation options.
Register here
Event Details
Contact us
For all CANSO events information please contact:
CANSO Events
Tel: +31 (0)23 568 5390
Email: events@canso.org